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For years, breast augmentation has been the most popular plastic surgery procedure performed, with over 300,000 women undergoing the procedure each year. Breast augmentation has also seen a steady increase over the past decade as techniques and implant options help women achieve a more natural breast appearance. However, in 2016, liposuction finally overtook breast augmentation in the number of procedures performed.

Courtesy of ASAPS

Courtesy of ASAPS

Why Did Liposuction Overtake Breast Augmentation?

Beauty trends are always changing, but breast augmentation has been holding steady numbers, with around 300,000 procedures performed annually. Liposuction saw an increase over the last five years but was still trumped by breast augmentation until 2016. The chances are that liposuction has become more popular as body shape has become more important than breast size to many people. Additionally, liposuction was the top male procedure in 2016, with over 45,000 surgeries performed. With an influx of both men and women undergoing the procedure, it makes sense that it became more popular than a gender-specific surgery like breast augmentation.

Why You May Choose Liposuction

Liposuction is the most versatile fat removal procedure available. It safely and effectively eliminates areas of stubborn fat, even contouring finer areas that may not be reached with non-surgical options. You might choose liposuction to improve the definition of your:

• Abdomen
• Hips
• Thighs
• Arms
• Back
• Neck
• Legs
• Chest

 Combining Procedures

The statistics provided by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) don’t indicate whether these liposuction surgeries were performed as standalone procedures or in combination with other surgeries. You can choose to combine your liposuction procedure with tummy tuck, arm lift, body lift, or breast augmentation surgeries for better definition and more beautiful results.

 
If you are interested in seeing how liposuction can benefit you, schedule your consultation with Dr. Koch today. You can call our office at (716) 631-1220, or you can contact us online.

Your skin tells the world what’s happening in your life. If you’re tired, your skin—especially around your eyes—will show it. If you’ve gotten too much sun or are overheated, your skin can offer clues. Your skin is also a reflection of your general health and well-being. Translation? What you put inside your body makes its appearance known on your skin.

Take processed foods for example. Societies and geographical locations that eat very little junk also experience fewer skin issues such as acne and dermatitis than people in locales like the United States. The results shouldn’t be surprising. The more natural, whole foods you eat give your body the essentials it really needs, which means it can spend more time helping to maintain—not to fix—your body’s systems.

Interested in eating well for your skin? Use the ideas in this infographic:

With summer quickly approaching, people will soon be baring more skin to keep cool under the UV rays. The sun is going to come out soon enough, so it is time to get those last-minute cosmetic “touch-ups” done before summer makes its mark. Some common goals people want to achieve before summer include improving the appearance of their face and getting rid of those last few inches before having to put on a bathing suit at the beach or pool.

Whether you want a smoother, fresher face or a more contoured, flattering physique, Dr. Koch offers a variety of procedures that are bound to help you meet your goals.

Procedures for Your Last-Minute Touch-Ups

With so many options available, you can choose to undergo one or more cosmetic procedures to help you look your best this upcoming summer season. You won’t feel the need to shy away once the hot summer sun comes out after taking advantage of these “touch-up” procedures.

Cosmetic Facial Aging Treatments

• BOTOX® Cosmetic: This injectable contains a protein neurotoxin derived from botulinum toxin A, which temporarily paralyzes the facial muscles to prevent them from contracting. BOTOX® Cosmetic can reduce the appearance of:
  • Crow’s feet
  • Frown lines
  • Forehead lines

• Skin resurfacing: A chemical solution is applied to the skin to thin the outer layer, which allows the skin to create more collagen and grow new, healthy skin cells. Skin resurfacing can reduce the appearance of:
  • Facial wrinkles
  • Sun-damaged skin
  • Acne scars

Body Shaping Procedures

• Liposuction
  

  Liposuction of the outer thighs.

  : A small, thin tube (cannula) is used to remove excess fat from specific areas of the body and sculpt the desired contours. Liposuction is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle; it is ideal for patients who have stubborn localized fat that is resistant to diet and exercise.

• Fat transfer: Using the liposuction procedure, unwanted fat is removed from one area of the body, and the fat is then purified and injected into the buttocks to create shape and add volume.  

It is the perfect time of year to get your skin fresh and body into shape before throwing on more revealing clothing. You can get summer-ready by undergoing one or a combination of facial rejuvenating and body sculpting treatments.

 
Dr. Koch can evaluate your body and your goals to help you decide on the best treatment for your needs. Schedule your consultation by calling (716) 631-1220 or by filling out our online contact form.

Facial aging can be a prominent concern for many men and women over the age of 30. With the improvement of injectables, more people are turning to these non-surgical treatments to address their facial aging. While injectable treatments are great for patients who have volume loss and surface wrinkles, they won’t improve the deeper causes of aging. If you want to erase years from appearance, facelift surgery may be the best option for you.

Treating Facial Sagging

The older you get, the more likely it is that sagging facial tissue is the leading cause of your aged facial appearance. Facelift surgery is the only proven technique to treat facial laxity. While injectables may improve wrinkles or volume loss, a facelift restores a firmer, more toned appearance. In addition to removing excess skin, a facelift addresses the drooping muscles of the face for a deep correction.

Deeper Treatment for Longer-Lasting Results

Dr. Koch’s facelift techniques focus on treating the drooping facial muscles that cause facial sagging. If left untreated, sagging muscles will affect the long-term quality of your results. This is why people who choose non-surgical treatments, like injectables, don’t yield the same rejuvenation results. Non-surgical treatments provide surface correction. By working deep in the tissues, you can achieve more dramatic results that last longer.

Combine With Other Procedures

Facelift surgery only provides correction to the midface and jawline. It can be combined with other facial enhancement procedures to achieve total facial rejuvenation results. Commonly combined procedures include:

• Eyelid lift to treat sagging eyelids
• Forehead lift to improve drooping brows
• Neck lift for a more defined jawline
• KYBELLA® to reduce the appearance of a double chin
• Laser skin resurfacing for a better complexion

To see if facelift surgery is the right procedure to reverse your signs of visible aging, schedule your consultation with Dr. Koch today. Call us at (716) 631-1220 or contact us online.

A poorly shaped booty is becoming an increasingly common problem among women. In the past decade, we have seen a shift that has celebrated the more curvaceous and voluptuous backside. The downside for many women is that no amount of diet or exercise will provide them with the butt profile they desire. Luckily, there is a solution in the Brazilian Butt Lift.

What Is the Brazilian Butt Lift?

In the past, butt augmentation was performed using just implants. While implants would increase the size of the buttocks, they often yielded unnatural results. For this reason, many women were wary to undergo this enhancement procedure. However, new advancements in fat transfer techniques have allowed surgeons to increase the size and shape of the buttocks while maintaining a natural appearance.

The Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) uses these modern fat transfer techniques to achieve the booty shape you desire. Liposuction is used to harvest your own fatty tissue from areas it is not wanted, and the fat is purified, leaving only strong fat cells. This purified fat is then carefully grafted into the butt in even layers. Dr. Koch is able to tailor the shape of your behind to highlight your body’s curves.

Benefits of BBL

• Liposuction to harvest fat provides an improved body contour and enhances the overall shape of your body
• Doesn’t result in noticeable edges like implants
• Long-lasting results
• Shorter recovery period
• Increased confidence in your booty and body

 
If you are looking to enhance the appearance of your buttocks while maintaining a natural appearance, schedule your BBL consultation with Dr. Koch today. Call us at 716-631-1220 or contact us online.

Photo via Pixabay by Lazare

Staying healthy can be a difficult task these days, as busy as life can be. For many of us, eating right and getting in daily exercise is a chore that has to be planned days in advance, and thinking about the best ways to keep our bodies and minds in good shape is often overwhelming.

Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of ways to ensure that your mind, body, and soul are in the best shape possible, it just takes a bit of planning and a little resolve. Staying healthy is about more than sticking to a strict diet and doing certain types of exercises; it’s also about making sure you’re stress-free and eating the right types of foods.

Here are a few of the easiest ways to do just that:

Cool Off

On hot days, you’re far more likely to get a headache or migraine than on any other day. Stay cool, and if you feel a headache coming on, sip ice water and keep a cool washcloth on your forehead to minimize the risk of brain pain.

Keep a Cool Head

De-stressing is essential in these stressful times, so make it a point to carve out some quiet time for yourself each day. Whether it’s an hour of reading before bed or waking up twenty minutes early so you can sit in peace with a cup of coffee, making time for yourself outside of the chaos of everyday life is imperative and can keep your heart strong and your mind sharp.

Get Outside

Getting outside in the sun can help you stock up on vitamin D, which is great for teeth, gums, bones, and the immune system. If you throw in some exercise, you can also get the benefit of increasing your melatonin–which helps you sleep–and boosting your mood. Vitamin D has also been shown to reduce the risk of several diseases, including multiple sclerosis, and can even fight off the flu.

Increase Your Vitamin C Intake

Vitamin C is great for your skin and immune system as well as your bones and gums, and it can prevent certain cancers and even the common cold. If you’re a smoker, your need for vitamin C is greater than an average person’s. The easiest ways to get it is through food, such as citrus fruit, apples, dark leafy greens, broccoli, and red bell peppers.

Protect Your Heart

Millions of Americans are at risk for heart disease, so it’s important to keep it healthy with a diet rich in omega-3s (found in fish), nuts, berries, grapes, and good fats. Be sure to start off every day with a healthy breakfast chock full of protein and skip the soda and foods high in cholesterol. You might consider trying the Mediterranean Diet, which is full of plant-based foods, seafood, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and herbs and spices instead of salt.

Watch the Knees

Your knees, ankles, and feet get a lot of wear and tear on an average day, especially if you have a job where you’re on your feet a lot, so it’s important to take good care of them. Walking at a medium pace, wearing good sturdy shoes, and keeping your feet well groomed and moisturized are all great ways to ensure they stay healthy.

If you are interested in improving your appearance, contact us to schedule your consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon, Todd B. Koch. Call us at (716) 631-1220, or fill our our online contact form for more information.

If you have redundant folds of skin around your midsection, you might be considering body contouring to help you achieve the physique you desire. Men and women may both develop excess skin around the abdomen for a number of reasons, the most common being weight fluctuations, aging, and in women, pregnancy. The most common abdominal contouring procedure is the tummy tuck, and it can be used in combination with liposuction to eliminate excess fat. However, for many patients, excess skin and fat aren’t the only abdominal issues they have. Stretch marks can cause an unattractive belly appearance, which many people seek to hide with clothing. On the right patient, a tummy tuck can improve the appearance of abdominal stretch marks for smoother abdominal skin.

Why Do Stretch Marks Develop?

Stretch marks typically develop when there is rapid stretching of an area of skin. Adolescents commonly develop stretch marks during growth spurts, which fade over time. Adults develop stretch marks when there are rapid or prolonged changes in the elasticity of their skin. Women are likely to develop stretch marks during pregnancy, and men and women can develop stretch marks with weight gain. Dramatic weight loss can leave the developed stretch marks looking more prominent on loose skin. While the abdomen is one of the most common areas where stretch marks develop, you may notice their presence on the breasts, upper arms, thighs, and buttocks.

Treating Abdominal Stretch Marks

You can find many at-home treatments for stretch marks that include various creams. However, depending on your genetics and the rate of your skin expansion, your stretch marks may be too deep or dark to treat with at-home remedies. If this is your case, a tummy tuck may be the right choice for you.

Patients with excess abdominal skin who also have stretch marks can use a tummy tuck to restore a smooth and firm appearance. If stretch marks are on the portions of skin that are removed, the stretch marks are removed along with the excess skin. When the skin is redraped, remaining stretch marks can be smoothed out.

While a tummy tuck cannot eliminate 100 percent of your stretch marks, you will have a noticeable change in the amount and color of your stretch marks. For many patients, their remaining stretch marks are so faint that they feel comfortable wearing bathing suits and revealing clothing.

If you are looking to improve the appearance of your abdomen, schedule your consultation with Dr. Koch today. Call us at (716) 631-1220 or contact us online.  

Did you know that the type of bra you wear following your breast augmentation can significantly impact the quality of your results? Bras are all designed differently and meant to help your breasts in a range of ways. During your initial recovery, you should aim for security and comfort rather than looks. While you may want to jump straight into new, sexy lingerie, wearing a more basic bra can provide you with better results in the long run. Here are some tips to help you pick the perfect bra following your breast augmentation.

Immediately Wear Your Surgical Bra

Many doctors will provide you with or will suggest a good brand of surgical bra to wear immediately following your breast augmentation. Surgical bras are ideal because they are comfortable and easy to wear, especially while you are still changing your bandages on a regular basis. Surgical bras are designed to provide adequate support without squeezing the breasts.

Sports Bra for Four to Six Weeks

After a week or two in your surgical bra, you can transition into a sports bra. It is important that you don’t wear underwire bras during this time. The underwire can irritate your incisions, causing them to heal poorly. The ideal sports bra should fit snugly but not extremely tight. You want to provide support to your healing breasts, but too much pressure can displace your breast implants in the breast pocket.

Ditch the Push-up for up to Six Months

While most major swelling begins to subside around six weeks, your breasts will still be settling into their final position for several more months. Push-up bras can displace breast tissue, which may affect the position of your breast implants. Wear bras that allow your breast tissue and implants to rest in a natural position to ensure better long-term results. Besides, most women won’t need a push-up bra in the months following their augmentation because of the new volume and cleavage their procedure provides.

Find Your Confidence

After six months, your incisions should be healed and you can wear other bra types again. Take this opportunity to try new styles of bras. Go and get measured to ensure you are wearing the proper bra size. Pick out something fun and sexy. The goal is to feel amazing about your new body. You’ll be surprised how a new, luxury bra will help you feel.

If you are considering breast augmentation to increase your breast size and to improve your confidence, schedule your consultation with Dr. Koch today. Call us at (716) 631-1220 or contact us online.  

Facial aging is not the same for everyone, and different people have different issues when it comes to combating facial aging. A sagging, turkey-like appearance affects both men and women, in which the lower third of their face and neck have begun to sag. Here are the three ways to reverse your turkey face for a younger, brighter appearance.

1. Undergo a Neck Lift

Men and women who suffer from a “turkey wattle” have a sagging accumulation of skin along the neck. This can be accompanied by vertical banding, loose platysma muscles, and excess fat below the chin. The neck lift is designed to restore a thinner, smoother, and more graceful neck appearance, effectively eliminating your turkey wattle to help you look and feel more like a spring chicken.

A neck lift achieves your ideal neck profile by placing a small incision at the base of your neck. Excess skin and fat are removed. A corset suturing technique is used to tighten the loose platysma muscles. Dr. Koch’s neck lift technique is so discreet that no one will know you’ve had surgery!

2. Combine a Facelift and Neck Lift

If you suffer from more than just a pronounced wattle, combining both a facelift and neck lift may be the right decision for you. Patients with lower facial sagging usually also have neck sagging, which will detract from the results of a facelift if left untreated. In addition to restoring a firmer, smoother facial appearance, combining facial procedures has the added benefits of:

• Being cost-effective because you are only paying for anesthesia and your surgical facility one time.
• Less recovery time because you recover from both at the same time rather than having two separate six-week recoveries.

3. Go Non-Surgical

For patients whose turkey wattle is caused by a double-chin, non-surgical options may be the way to go. The new FDA-approved KYBELLA® is the ideal treatment for people looking to eliminate their double chin. KYBELLA® is safe and effective, reducing the amount of submental fat in just a few short weeks.

If you are thinking of giving yourself the gift of a more youthful appearance this holiday, schedule your consultation today. Call us at (716) 631-1220 or contact us online.